MTV ACTS REAL SMALL AND CRAPPY
WITH JANET JACKSON
You didn't see Janet Jackson on
TRL the day her album was released. You didn't see her
video the week before it was released on the network either.
There was no special album release special, no video retrospective,
not even a feature on MTV.COM. As far as MTV was concerned,
Janet was invisible. It is quite clear that MTV is punishing
Janet Jackson for her Superbowl wardrobe malfunction.
Despite what anyone in the world
says and I am prepared to get a ton of email regarding
this article. There are two things that I believe:
1) Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction
wasn't an accident. She claims that she did plan a wardrobe
reveal but that there was supposed to be something underneath.
There was something underneath alright-a starburst shapped
nipple shield. She also said show producers weren't aware
of the wardrobe reveal. I just don't buy it. I think she
planned it for shock value and it blew up in her face.
Now she says it was an accident, but me, I just don't
buy it.
2) MTV is definitely punishing
Janet. Believe if Justin Timberlake had a project coming
out he would be all over the tube.
It wouldn't be so obvious that
MTV was shunning Janet if they hadn't embraced her so
much in the past. She was the first recipient of their
ICON award several years ago. Over the years we have seen
countless Janet Jackson specials when she has a new album
coming out. We have seen her videos debut on MTV before
they premiere on BET. We have seen Janet perform on the
MTV awards on numerous occasions. Janet was an MTV darling.
No matter what she had coming out, MTV was there to promote
it whether it be a movie or an album.
MTV hasn't publicly admitted that
they are punishing Janet. As far as the video is concerned
they claim they didn't receive it in time to premiere
it the week prior to her albums release-although the clip
was airing on BET and VH-1.
From a consumer standpoint, it
was quite obvious to me that MTV was shunning Janet. I
finally found a Janet Jackson mention on the MTV website
under new releases. What I read was just plain mean.
Regarding Damita Jo from the MTV
Website, "Janet Jackson's name hasn't been
in the papers for a while, so we'll throw her a bone and
mention that her new album, Damita Jo, arrives Tuesday,
featuring the flirty first single "Just a Little
While." Now, if only there was something she could
do to get some publicity ..."
The new release article credited
to MTV in house scribe Abby Goodman just seemed like a
mean jibe or at least overly sarcastic. Another truly
mean tone to the statement is they mention her first single
as "Just a Little While," when it is a well
know fact that single was shelved and "I Want You,"
is the true first single and video release from Damita
Joe.
Janet Jackson is getting support from other venues. She
has made appearances on David Lettermen and the Ryan Seacrest
show. She also made a album release day appearance on
BET's 106 & Park. BET also aired a recent Janet
Jackson interview and retrospective.
Another thing I find funny is how
Janet is suddenly "Black." Of course Janet has
always been an African-American woman, but lately she
has really been vocal about her struggles as an "African-American"
woman and the strength that she has found, note her Soul
Train award speech when she speaks of the reserves of
strength that she has as an African-American woman. What
irked me about her statement is that it just didn't seem
genuine. It reminded me of Kobe Bryant on the Kids Choice
Awards talking about Martin Luther King after he won an
award. Why is it when these huge cross-over artists get
in trouble they suddenly rush back into the arms of the
African-American community?
Will I buy Damita Jo? I don't know. I was a big
Janet fan back in the day. As a freshman in high school
I even learned the entire routine to "Miss You Much"
and "Rhythm Nation" for a dance troop I was
involved in. Musically, her last album I really liked
was her 1993 release Janet. I totally missed out
on The Velvet Rope. I did purchase All For You.
I like Janet, I'm not that thrilled with anything I have
heard form Damita Jo so far, but if I catch it
on sale it might make it home.
I just think it is so unfair that
MTV is so blatantly acting small and crappy with Janet
Jackson. Sure she may have cost them millions of dollars
if they are never allowed to produce the Superbowl Half-Time
Show again, but to just stop showing an artists that I'm
sure their viewers are interested in is small.
I truly believe that had it been
a white artist that had a "wardrobe malfunction"
such as their darling Britney Spears, they would never
turn their back on them during a vital promotion week
or ignore their album release.
Purchase
Damita Jo
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Dorrie Williams-Wheeler is a
very married, quite eccentric, multi talented chick with
way too much time on her hands. She is also the author
of Be My Sorority Sister-Under Pressure and the editor
for Tha Biz, check her out on line at www.dorrieinteractive.com.
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